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Monday, September 11, 2017
Page #10
Texas History Minute As Reconstruction was winding down, Ireland re-entered politics and was elected to the state legislature In 1872. While serving in the legislature, Ireland was the sponsor for the legislation that allowed the University of Texas to finally become a reality. The creation of the university was an effort shared by many over a long period of time. He lost a race for U. S. Senate in 1874, but in 1875, he was appointed to briefly serve as an appellate judge. In 1878, Ireland challenged Congressman Gustav Schleicher for the Sixth District congressional Dr. Bridges is a Texas native, seat, which then included the San writer, and history professor. He Antonio area. Schleicher, a German immigrant and can be reached at businessman, faced a formidable drkenbridges@gmail.com. challenger in Ireland. He was able to win his second term, but he died just months after his victory, in January 1879. Ireland chose not to John Ireland lost more political run in the special election to fill races than he won, but he had an the remainder of the term, a race important role in state history. He ultimately won by attorney rose from an impoverished Christopher Upson. background to become a Civil War officer, judge, and governor. In 1882, he won election easily to Along the way, he helped create become the state’s eighteenth two icons of Texas: the University governor. As governor, he pushed of Texas and the State Capitol. for property taxes and faced the Fence Cutting Wars. With the John Ireland was born on New 1874 invention of barbed wire, Years Day 1827 in rural central large ranchers started fencing in Kentucky. His parents were Irish their properties, blocking in small immigrants and farmers. He grew farms and ranches. In response, up working hard but had little fences began getting cut, and formal education, as very little violence erupted on the frontier. education was available. He was Ireland sent in the Texas Rangers seen as reliable and was appointed to maintain order and pushed deputy sheriff of Hart County in legislation in 1884 to give the 1845 at age 18. Rangers special powers in these cases. He developed a fascination with the law and began studying it at The other major issue of his age 24 by apprenticing himself to a administration was construction of local attorney. He was admitted to the new State Capitol. Fire the bar later in 1851. The next destroyed the old Capitol in 1881. year, he moved to Texas for a fresh Money had been appropriated for a start and an opportunity to establish new building, and construction his own law practice. He settled in started after Ireland’s 1884 rethe town of Seguin where he soon election. The distinctive pink became an important figure in the granite look of the State Capitol is community. Ireland served as due in part to Ireland. He insisted mayor of Seguin briefly in 1858. on Texas limestone instead of importing limestone from Indiana. Ireland had fought for secession After using this stone to lay the and participated in the 1861 foundation, iron particles in the secession convention. After Texas stone rusted and discolored the pulled out of the Union, Ireland stone. Learning of the problem, immediately enlisted as a private in owners of Granite Mountain near the Confederate Army. He saw Marble Falls in Burnet County little action during the Civil War as approached Ireland with a his assignments kept him within solution. They owners donated the the state, patrolling the coast and pink granite to complete the the borders. Nevertheless, he building, an offer Ireland happily dramatically rose through the accepted. The new State Capitol ranks, ending the war as a was formally dedicated in April lieutenant colonel. 1888.
After Ireland finished his terms as governor in January 1887, he quietly resumed his law practice in Seguin, where he remained a respected figure. He had made a tidy profit in the stock market over
the years, but this was all wiped out in the Panic of 1893, a deep economic depression that crushed stocks and left millions unemployed nationally. John Ireland died deeply in debt in 1896 at the age of 69.
Grayson County well represented at Hendrix College
Dr. Ken Bridges
The chaos of Reconstruction politics swept up Ireland. In 1866, he was part of the state constitutional convention. Shortly afterward, he was elected judge. However, Texas and many other southern states were placed under martial law in 1867 for failing to uphold the rights for freedmen and impeding Reconstruction. Ireland and many other politicians were thrust from office.
He chose not to run for a third term in 1886 and instead ran for the U. S. Senate. He challenged incumbent Sen. Samuel B. Maxey. At that time, the state legislature still elected Senators rather than the voters. Legislators rejected both Gov. Ireland and Sen. Maxey in favor of veteran Congressman John H. Reagan. Ireland never ran for election again.
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Grayson County football players playing for the Hendrix Warriors in Conway, AR. Pictured left to right is Tanner Hartsfield of Howe, Levi Jones of Van Alstyne, Ryan Pollard of Whitesboro, and Mason Adams of Van Alstyne. Submitted photo
